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A. T. DAWSON AND G. T. BUCKHAM. lLOCK MECHANISM oF oRDNANcE. APPLlCATlON FILED )UNI-121. 19H- 1,303,638. Patented M 3, 1919.

4 SHEET -U EETI.

, I 4 l kg l A. T; DAWSON'AND G. T. BUCKHAM. LOCK MECHANISM 0F ORDNANCE.

APPLlcArloN man :une 21. 1911.

1,303,638. Patented May 13, 1919.

4 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

1H; mums versus ce., puapumm. wAsHmcmN. n. c,

A. T. nAwsoN AND 6.1. ucKHAM.

LOCK MECHANlSM 0F vvORDNNCl-.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE2I. |917.

Patented May13,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. `[.'DAWSON AND G. T. BUCKHAIVI.

LOCK MECHANISM OF ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION man JUNE 21. 1911.

1,303,638. Patented May13,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W 2 d f ,i against the saidvsurface. f Y approaches the end of its forward or firing @ITED STATES PATENT 0mm f v Aa'run Tamron DAWSON AND energien THOMAS BUoKrrAM, oF WESTMINSTEN, l

, LoNDoN, ENGLAND, AssreNons 'ro vrcxnas LIMITED, or kwils Ti/uiIs'iER,

' LONDON, vELTGLALTD. L

Tov all. whom it may concern f i -f'glBe kitfknown that we, Sir ARTHURTRnvoR DAWSON, knight, .and GEORGE THOMAS BUCK-j HJHAM, both' subjects ofthe King of Great Britain,residing-atrvickers House, Broad-gy f way,y Westminster, inthe county/of Lon` don', England,` have invented .certain newv and'useful'Improvements in or .Relating toi f the LockMechanism of Ordnance, of which v' the'following'is asspecication. f

fThis invention relates to ordnance vlock "mechani'srnf -particularly of the kind in which the iiringpi'n forms part of or is mounted on a spring controlled pivoted ori rocking hammer carried by the lock frame' andfin ywhich ther'fmal firing movement is eii'ected-'by momentum, this movement taking place against the resistance vof a spring. which .brings the point of the firing pin within the front face of the lock frame.

According to the invention the pivoted or 'f rocking hammer and its main spring are so constructed and arrangedthat one end of l 'the'y spring, viz. that which urges the liam- @mer forward to fire the` gun, is caused to be displaced in the reverse direction by themomentum'of `the hammer during its l'inal l forward" Vmovement to retract the hammer and bring the point ofthe firing Apin within thefront.I face of thelock frame.` The said 1 hammer' during' itslvforward movement un@y gderthedniiuence' ofV the main spring, turns about oiie'fulcrum and during its linal forwardmovement' under the influence of ino-f' mentum turnsv about another fulcrum. For' (this purpose'thehammer may be connected tothe lock frame by a pivot pin and an elonf gated hole or slot, the main spring tending to'holdf'one' surface .of ythis-slot constantly a ainst the: pivot pin vor the pivot pin g' As the hammer movement underv the influence of the main spring, a' portion of the hammer comes ag'amsta v}')rojection on the lock frame; the action'oflthe spring is thereby arrested and lthe'f'hammer completes l its V.forward movement 'under the' influence of f its momentum [as aforesaid this `movement taking place: about? the said projection which then constitutes the second fulcrum for the hammer.

-v The rocki-ng action ofthe hammer about 'Lthisfulcrumflfis:permitted owing tov the Loox MEcHANIsM or oRDNANcE. f

aforesaid pin and slot-connection between ratentedMay 13,1919. Application filed .Tune 21, 191'?. ,Serial No. 176,107? y i 1 hook or eye or otherdevice which retracts the hammer and between which andv the= hammer the slip action takes place, is n orl mally retained .iny its operative engagement with the 'hammer by vamember .or`guard which is-'pivotedli'orA otherwise movably mounted on the hammer and iszso constructed and arranged that a'svthe hammer is completing its rearward movement, thev guard is moved to liberate the -lanyard which by the pull exerted thereon to 'retract'k the ham mer becomes completely' .detached `from the latter. y v

The lock frame is of the rectilinearly and laterally vsliding type and is connected to the'.

actuating linky byv a coupling having a curved surface struck from the axis of the gun when the'flock frame isin the open position; thus only 'when'the 'lock'frame is in the open" position can the boxl slide be angularly displaced on theaxial vent bolt to.V

effect engagement or disengagement between the lock frame and the actuating link.

The lock frame is adapted to bebpe'ned, during the unlocking of the-breech screw,I

by a rotary vcam which may-be 'carried 'by` the `breech actuatingv handV lever shaft or may be operated therefrom lthrough suitable gearing. l' This caml is of such'la character f thatas the lock'frame reaches its v:tullyopen'` position Vwithf the breech screw fully un'- locked, 'the lock fr'ameis no longer acted upon Aby the cam with vthe yresult that a spring which was 'energized during the latl ter portion of the opening movement of the lockv frame will shift the latter toward the closed kposition untilthe inner end projects- Vslightly over the tube or` primer chamber ofthe axial vent. l This arrangement enables the lockframe to serve as a tube retainer and permits a singleA piece Vextractor to be l used; .theemployment of this extractor is possible because the latter lis pushed home by the lockframe durin its initial closing movement'under the in uence of the afore-i said spring and before a'tubeor primer is inserted, `,whereas in' those cases `wherev the insertion` of a tube or primer is effected- 1i.whenthe"Lockl frame'fis inl the fully open effect, We .will describefthe same more fully with referencelto the accompanying.draw#,v

of the actuating'linkis s'o-'c'onstructed Vand arranged that whether this handlebe moved toward or away from the axis of the gun, the guide bolt will be Withdrawnfrom` the' member of the breech mechanism` that vactuates thelock frame.vv f

In order that the saidjn'ventionmaybe.

clearly understood vand readily lcarried into ings, in which Figures 1, 2 and v3 are respectively anendelevation,-a `side;elevationand arplan of ai lock constructed 1n accordance with, our yin-i vention. n

F ig. Bis a diagrammatic rear elevati'ong showing the aforesaid coupling between the`v lock frame and the actuating link. Fig. 4 is a section. taken approximately on Fig; 5 is a section'taken approximately `on=l` the line 2-2 of Figfl, showing the lock,V frame in its closed;l position .andflthelringf mechanism ready to lbe. fired.A

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Figsf and 5, but showingat'he hammer retracted and on vthe point of movingforward-toffire the gun-,Fig 7' also. shows! the hammer by/f chain lines in its forward- .or firing position.

Flg. 8 is a view similar toz'Fig. 5 but showing the loclrframein theopen position, and' Fig. 9 isa viewsimilartoFigt 8 but show,L

ing the lock frame returningto. itsypartiallyclosed position.-

Fig. 10 isa development of the aforesaid cam for-actuating the lock frame, and

Fig; -11 is af sectionl taken `approximately mer @and is-controlled byalspring plunger* 5'. A is the axial vent bolt,'A the box slide, JB theflockframe, and B the actuating link for thel lock frame. 'C is thehammer, C ther, vfiring pin and C2y ftheY main spring. :f

In the example shownl the I`-boX slide Ais ofsimple form, the lock framezp-B being ar-.f ranged toslide. over the same as Ais `underj stood. This-construction gives great-acces-g sibility for insertion of the, tube -or Aprimer into its chamber, in ther axial vent bolt'uVA The firing pin -CI is detachably connected yr to the hammer C and A.therlatterv #is :pivoted byij' a .pin o'. and aneelongatedholeror slot lc to@V the lock; frame: B betweenflugs v b,ftheie'on,- these .lugs 1 also serving toireceiv'e one. end of" on the-line 3, 3 of Figio.

the actuating linkf B. vThe fmaingspring" C2,

the resistance of the main springparts are in the position shown by full Alines in;Fig."7 :When the hammer is released thel springf` C2v causes itfto fly forwarduntilthe actsjgas.y alock retainer; andholds` thefboiz y slide and lock frame in the assembled posi-" f tion relatively to the actuating link, "o wing 'tol the'fac't that tlije-engagementof "the roller with" the grooveprevents' angufilar jdismanvtling movement of 'tlieboX slid'e.""A ring head isprovided -ontheplunger c? to enable 1 itrto-be'pulled back for dismantlingv the lock, ,-aiidalsonto facilitate the assembling of vthe l main -spring' C2` andthe said plunger.

When-theghammerC is retracted a ainst l 2 the,

portionicf thereony comes. into contact with a f lcorner fb* on the-lock frame. The parts aref` then; in thei` position :shown by vvFig. 5," with the face 0XV of; the hammerv resting inv f contactwith the' surface bf, oftlielock frameg,

the' :spring- C2 cannot.therefore'continue tol. y

` move the hammer forward. Themomentum ofthe hammer, however, causes yit to=rQ" `:k about'fthe cor-ner, -Ofthe look frameand.v

re the gun,- this movement being permitted by) ther-pin and'slot lconnection 0,@0.. This;

positiorrfis shown by-chain' lines in lFigg? -rf -i fromrwhich, itwillbe'seenathat the iring m'vement-.of the'liammer is ylimited-by surface 02,* onthe hammer.coming'againstai surface@2x onfthe lock frame. This na'l; v

firing movement of thek hammer vtakes place:` 1

against the resistanceof themain spring C2 f wliichrthen `re-acts tor'eturn the hammer to thefretr'acted. position shown by- Figs. 5, 8 and l9. `llhefiringpinis retained in position? Whenthe lock .is assembled, by the -wallsfof the lockframe.A D represents the guard for retaining thelanyard hook or eyef;

aforesaid member' M014" D. This guardis pivoted. yatt-dto the ham-vwalls of the lockframe '1 Tlie :actuating link B` is slidably mountediy inthe breech screw earrierfand is assembled by insertion from theleft hand s ide,l before AtheboXv slide Afwis in place onthe-axialvent f bolt A; The said actuating link is connec'tf ed' to the lockfframe by coupling compris-- ing. acurvedl projection' b3 on the-lock frameengaging;l with a .correspondingly curved*- from the center m atea*distanceifrem-:the 130 i axis of the gun (which axis is vindicated by v equal to the 'distance through which the lool; frame moves in assuming its vopen. position. When the lock frame reaches its y Y open position thev center w of the curvature of the projection and the slot' or groove coincides with the axis/y of the gun. Thus the boxl slide can be angularly displaced for disinantlingor assembling only when the lock V.frame is in the open position as, at any other. 1 time,"the projection will jam in the curved slot or groove owing to the fact that the axis about .which it is endeavored to turn the f box slidedoesnotcoincide with the center j y of the curvature of the l said projection and the said slot or groove.`

`E 'is the 'aforesaid rotary cam for movf ing the lock to the 'open position. F is the f i guide bolt with which this cam engages and thespring for controlling this guide '"'b'olty E represents the spring for partly closing the lock frame as aforesaid this l spring being `carriedwby the actuating link 'BQ is :in a single piece and is actuated by inclines E2* on the lock frame as is well under'stood, these inclines giving the necessary powerful'initlal wedging action followed by E2 is the extractor which as aforesaid rapid'ejecti'on of the tube or primer. The

spring E" is of the helical compression type yand bears against a. yplunger e? which, after the lock frame has performed a predeter- .mined portion: of its opening movement, f bears against a projection 62X on the breech ,3. screw carrier sothatfthe` spring is energized fduring the `final portion ofthe opening li'novement of the lock frame as aforesaid. Thev 'cam E is in theform of a grooved member'j with the grooves e, e of which the lguide bolt-'Fengages. yThe guide bolt is in thefpositionshown by full linesin Fig-lO,

y when the` lock frameY is closed;l when the i breech mechanism is Vbeing opened, the cam moves in the direction indicated by the arig.,:10,;rduring thismovement the groove e operates-upon the guide bolt to dis- I place the lock frame to the open position, the

vfinal portion of this movement taking place I against they resistance of the spring E as "aforesaid When the part e* of the member' E moves clear of the guide bolt F the spring E displaces the lock frame into the partlyV i closing position shown by Fig. 9 in which it overlaps the primer chamber.

f .The vnew tube or primer is then inserted, v the' lock frame during such insertion being slightly displaced outwardly against the re- Ysistance` of itsspring E by the engagement of the vtube or primer head with an inclined or rounded surface bx* on the lock frame, the f spring then re-acting to cause the lock frame y' toy overlap the primer chamber and' retain the tube or primer -in place. The guide bolt F at `this time occupies the position shown y. Aby chain lines in Fig. so that when the lock frame.

breech mechanism is being closed the groove e engages with the guide rv,bolt/,F and displaces the lock. frame toits closed position, the guide bolt during the final locking move ment of the breech mechanism ascending an incline ./2* in the groove e and dropping into the groove e. During .the closing of the lock frame,"an incliney BX thereon completes thev insertion of the' tube or primer. The said lock frame operating gear is of great simplicity and is comparatively free from outside. fittings or projections.

The operating handle F of the guide bolt F is pivoted at 7" (Fig. l1) to the guide bolt and has two arms or projections f2, f2 one 80 arranged on each side Vof the pivot f. Each of these arms or projections lies against a rearward extension f3 on the actuatinglinlr when the guide Ibolt is in engagement with y Y the aforesaid cam `groove e. Thug when the operator, standing at one side of the gun, pulls the handle FV the guidebolt is lifted out of the cam Vgroove and the actuating ylinkl and the lock frame then slide to the open `position during which operation the defective tube or primer. is extracted.l On releasing the handle it returns to its normal positionandl allows the guide bolt to enter a 'rece-ss 63 in the cam member E whereupon y the re-action of the aforesaid spring E carried the actuating link, brings the lock frame into the tube loading or partly closed posit-ion shown by Fig. 9. After a new tube or primer has been inserted the operator, standing at one side ofthe gun, pushes the handle F thus lifting the bolt out of the recess e3 in the cam Iand sliding the lock `frame y to its closed position, the guide bolt rengaging in the cam groove e when the handle isl released. For dismantling, the guide vbolt F, complete with/'its handleF" and springf can be removed intact by simply taking out f a spring pin. ,f4 that p-asses throughthe linkr` B andV through a plug f5 against whichv the rear end of the guide bolt spring )yf/bears and.. 110 which in turn bears againstr'a projection f6 on the handle F.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. In firing mechanism forv ordnance, the combination with a pivoted or rockin hammer, of a main spring and means w ereby the end of said spring that urges the hammer forward to fire the gun, is caused to be displaced in the reverse direction by the momentum of the hammer during its final forward movement so as to` retract the hammer and bring the point of the ring pin carried thereby, within the front face of the 2. In ring mechanism for ordnance, the combination with a pivoted or rocking hammer, of means whereby vduring its forward movement under the influence of the main spring: it turns about one fulcrum and dur# 13o .said guard toits disengaging position.

ing its nal forward movement under the influence of momentum thesaid hammer turns j about another fulcrum.

3. IIn firing mechanism for ordnance, the combination with a vspring controlled hammer and the lock frame, of a pivot pin disposed in an elongated hole or slot, the hammer during its forward or Iiring movement coming against a suitably formed part which serves as a fulcrumI during the iinal ring movement of the hammer by its momentum,`

4. In ordnance firing mechanism'of the slip lock type, the kcombination with [the hammer, of a lanyard hook -or eye or other device which retracts the hammer and lbetween which and the hammer the slipl actiony takes place,.a guard `which' is pivoted or otherwise lmovably'mounted on the hammer and which normally retains said device 'in'. enf; gagement with the hammer, of means .where-` by as the hammer is completingv its rear-v ward movement, the vguard is moved to liberatethe lanyard which by the pull eX-,A erted thereon to retract the hammer becomes completely detached from the latter.

5. Inrordnance firing mechanism of kthe slip type, the combination' with the hammer, of a lanyard hook or eye lor other `device whichv retracts vthe hammer, and betweeny which and theJ hammer the slip action/takes place, a spring controlled guard pivoted to.Y the hammer, an arm on said guard and a stop against which said arm comesl during the retraction of the hammer to move ,the

6. In ordnance lock mechanism, the combination withjthe lockframe andthe actu-V ating link,f0f a, coupling between said parts said coupling having curved surfaces struck lfrom the VaXis of thev gun when'theJ locl'f' frame is in the-open position. j y

7 InV ordnance lock` mechanism, thecombination with the lock rame,'ofy arotary cam whichA asthe lock framereaches its fI`i1l1y-y Copie! ofthispatent may` be obtained for open position withrthe breech screw fully unlocked, no longer acts on the lock frame f Aand a spring which was energized during the latterV portionfof the opening movement of the lock frame,l for shifting the latter tok 50 projects slightly ,over-'the tube or primer ward the closed position until the inner end chamber of the axial vent. n'

`8. In ordnance lock mechanism, -the combinatlon `with a `groovedfrotary cam,.of a

r lockrame, an actuating vlinkI coupled thereto, a slida'ble guide bolt carried by the actuating link and -enga'geable in .the

the cam to displace the actuating yzli-nk'durf ing the rotationy ofthe carri,V an operating 1 handle for the guide bolt, 'and meanswherel by theguidebolt'willgbe withdrawn from. the cam groove when i. the handle is movedk either toward .vor away from the axis of gun;`substant1ally as described.

`the

Groove in 9.` In ordnance lock mechanlsm, thecom-rvv i bination with a1 gro'ovedrotary cam,'of a,

vlock frame,an`actuating. link coupled vthere- .i

toy and provided with a pair of spaced eX-A j tensions, a s lidableguide bolt carried by the actuating li'nk'and engageable inthe groove` inl the cam to, displace the actuating-4link during the rotation of .the cam, *and Aan operating-'handle pivoted to the vguide* bolt; ,i

and provided'witha pair of projections lo,-y catedone. on each side' of the pivotand adapted toy bearl against lthe adjacent eX,-r

tensionf on they actuating link Y when lthe handlel is moved either v toward 4or away;A

, fromthe aXisof the gun so as to withdraw the guide bolt fromthelcam groove;. Snbsvta'nrlti'allly as. described. A

Intestimony whereof rwe have hereunto aiiixedfour signatures ARTHURTREVOR DAwsoN. L

K- .GEORGE THoMAs BUCKHAM Washington, D. C. 

